Dr. Paul Yamauchi's medical specialty is surgical dermatology. Patient reviews placed him at an average of 4.0 stars out of 5. Dr. Yamauchi's areas of expertise include the following: facial problems, acne, and psoriasis. He is affiliated with VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System and Providence Saint John's Health Center. Dr. Yamauchi takes several insurance carriers, including Anthem, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, and Coventry. His practice is open to new patients. After completing medical school at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, he performed his residency at the University of Rochester Medical Center and a hospital affiliated with the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). He has received professional recognition including the following: Southern California Super Doctors. Dr. Yamauchi speaks Japanese.

Dr. Michael Newman is a plastic surgeon in Torrance, CA and Beverly Hills, CA. He speaks Spanish. Dr. Newman's areas of expertise include eyelid surgery, dermabrasion, and mini tummy tuck. He is affiliated with Torrance Memorial Medical Center, VCU Health Center & MCV Hospital and Physicians, and Providence Saint John's Health Center. Dr. Newman graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine and the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), David Geffen School of Medicine and then he performed his residency at a hospital affiliated with Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU). Patient reviews placed him at an average of 5.0 stars out of 5. He accepts Anthem, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Coventry, and more. Dr. Newman has received distinctions including Patient's Choice Award; Compassionate Doctor Award; and Super Doctors List. He has an open panel.

Dr. Andre Panossian is a specialist in plastic surgery and general surgery. Patients gave Dr. Panossian an average rating of 5.0 stars out of 5. These areas are among his clinical interests: breast reconstruction revision, dermabrasion, and vaginal rejuvenation. He is affiliated with Huntington Hospital, Children's Hospital of Orange County (CHOC Children's), and Cedars-Sinai. Dr. Panossian accepts Anthem, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, and Health Net, as well as other insurance carriers. He has an open panel. He studied medicine at Tufts University School of Medicine. He trained at a hospital affiliated with the University of Southern California (USC) for his residency. He has received distinctions including Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society Phi Beta Kappa RealSelf Top Doctor and Southern California Super Doctors. Dr. Panossian (or staff) is conversant in Spanish and Armenian.

Dr. David Rosenberg's medical specialty is plastic surgery. Dr. Rosenberg's patients gave him an average rating of 5.0 out of 5 stars. Areas of expertise for Dr. Rosenberg include eyelid surgery, breast reconstruction revision, and dermabrasion. He is professionally affiliated with Providence Saint John's Health Center. He is an in-network provider for Anthem, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, and Aetna, as well as other insurance carriers. He is accepting new patients. Dr. Rosenberg studied medicine at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. His training includes a residency program at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. Distinctions awarded to Dr. Rosenberg include: RealSelf Top Doctor and Southern California Rising Stars. He speaks Spanish.

Dr. Lisa Jewell specializes in hand surgery and head & neck plastic surgery and practices in Torrance, CA and Santa Monica, CA. Areas of expertise for Dr. Jewell include eyelid surgery, breast reconstruction revision, and dermabrasion. She is affiliated with Torrance Memorial Medical Center and Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center Torrance. Dr. Jewell is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. She trained at Los Angeles County+USC Medical Center for her residency. Dr. Jewell has a 4.5 out of 5 star average patient rating. She honors Anthem, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, and Aetna, in addition to other insurance carriers. She has received the following distinction: Southern California Super Doctors. Dr. Jewell welcomes new patients.

Dr. David Beynet is a specialist in MOHS-micrographic surgery. He works in Torrance, CA, Los Angeles, CA, and Santa Monica, CA. In addition to English, Dr. Beynet (or staff) speaks Spanish and French. His areas of expertise include spider veins, tattoo removal, and laser treatment. Dr. Beynet's professional affiliations include UCLA Medical Center, Santa Monica, VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, and Providence Saint John's Health Center. Dr. Beynet attended Stanford University School of Medicine and then went on to complete his residency at a hospital affiliated with the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). He honors Anthem, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Aetna, and more. He has received professional recognition including the following: Southern California Rising Stars. Dr. Beynet welcomes new patients.

Dr. Mytien Goldberg is a physician who specializes in plastic surgery and hand surgery. She is a graduate of Stanford University School of Medicine and a graduate of Los Angeles County+USC Medical Center's residency program. Dr. Goldberg's areas of expertise include the following: eyelid surgery, breast reconstruction revision, and mini tummy tuck. Her average rating from her patients is 5.0 stars out of 5. She is in-network for Anthem, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Medi-Cal, and more. Her distinctions include: Scholastic Honors Award from the University of California Davis and Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society. Dr. Goldberg speaks Vietnamese. Dr. Goldberg's hospital/clinic affiliations include Torrance Memorial Medical Center and Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center Torrance. New patients are welcome to contact her office for an appointment.

Dr. Adrien Aiache is a medical specialist in plastic surgery. Dr. Aiache's average rating from his patients is 3.0 stars out of 5. Areas of expertise for Dr. Aiache include eyelid surgery, dermabrasion, and mini tummy tuck. He takes MultiPlan, Anthem, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, and more. Before completing his residency at The Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York and Beth Israel Medical Center, New York, Dr. Aiache attended medical school at Paul Sabatier University Faculty of Medicine. Dr. Aiache (or staff) is conversant in Spanish and French. He is affiliated with Providence Tarzana Medical Center. Dr. Aiache welcomes new patients.

Dr. Ritu Batra is a pediatric dermatology, dermatopathology, and MOHS-micrographic surgery specialist in Santa Monica, CA. Dr. Batra's areas of expertise include facial problems, eyelid surgery, and rosacea. She accepts Anthem, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, and Aetna, in addition to other insurance carriers. She graduated from Harvard Medical School and then she performed her residency at Stanford Hospital & Clinics. She has received professional recognition including the following: Southern California Super Doctors. Dr. Batra speaks Spanish. She is affiliated with Providence Saint John's Health Center. Her practice is open to new patients.

Dr. Gennady Rubinstein practices pediatric dermatology, dermatopathology, and MOHS-micrographic surgery. On average, patients gave Dr. Rubinstein a rating of 3.5 stars out of 5. His clinical interests include facial problems, rosacea, and dermabrasion. He accepts Anthem, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, and Coventry, as well as other insurance carriers. He obtained his medical school training at Boston University School of Medicine and performed his residency at a hospital affiliated with the University of California, Irvine. He has received professional recognition including the following: Southern California Super Doctors. Dr. Rubinstein speaks Russian. He is professionally affiliated with Providence Tarzana Medical Center, Adventist Health System, and VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System. He is accepting new patients.

Dr. Steven Dresner sees patients in Pasadena, CA, Los Angeles, CA, and Santa Monica, CA. His medical specialty is ophthalmic plastic surgery. After completing medical school at the University of Michigan Medical School, he performed his residency at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center - New Orleans. Dr. Dresner's areas of expertise include the following: eyelid retraction repair, thyroid problems, and juvederm. Patient ratings for Dr. Dresner average 4.0 stars out of 5. He is an in-network provider for Anthem, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, and Medi-Cal, in addition to other insurance carriers. He has received professional recognition including the following: Southern California Super Doctors and Southern California Super Doctors 2008. Dr. Dresner is conversant in Spanish. Dr. Dresner's professional affiliations include Huntington Hospital, Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center, and Providence Saint John's Health Center. His practice is open to new patients.

Dr. John Anastasatos is a plastic surgeon and hand surgeon in Beverly Hills, CA and Bakersfield, CA. On average, patients gave Dr. Anastasatos a rating of 5.0 stars out of 5. His areas of expertise include breast reconstruction revision, dermabrasion, and vaginoplasty. He is professionally affiliated with Providence Tarzana Medical Center. Dr. Anastasatos takes several insurance carriers, including Anthem, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, and Cigna. His practice is open to new patients. After attending Brown University, Alpert Medical School, he completed his residency training at a hospital affiliated with Columbia University. Dr. Anastasatos has received the distinction of Southern California Super Doctors. He speaks Greek.

Dr. Ralph Massey, who practices in Santa Monica, CA, Encino, CA, and Los Angeles, CA, is a medical specialist in MOHS-micrographic surgery. He is rated 5.0 stars out of 5 by his patients. These areas are among Dr. Massey's clinical interests: TCA peel, radiesse, and restylane. His hospital/clinic affiliations include VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System and Providence Saint John's Health Center. He is an in-network provider for Anthem, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, and Coventry, as well as other insurance carriers. He is open to new patients. Dr. Massey attended the University of London and King's College London School of Medicine and then went on to complete his residency at a hospital affiliated with SUNY, University at Buffalo. He has received the following distinction: Southern California Super Doctors.

Dr. Susan Downey's specialty is pediatric plastic and reconstructive surgery. Her average rating from her patients is 4.0 stars out of 5. Her areas of expertise include the following: eyelid surgery, thigh lift (thighplasty), and tummy tuck revision. Dr. Downey's professional affiliations include Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center and Providence Saint John's Health Center. Dr. Downey honors Blue Shield, Anthem, and Blue Cross/Blue Shield, in addition to other insurance carriers. She is accepting new patients. After completing medical school at Columbia University, College of Physicians and Surgeons, she performed her residency at a hospital affiliated with the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Downey has received the following distinction: Southern California Super Doctors 2008.

Dr. Raffy Karamanoukian's area of specialization is plastic surgery. Patient ratings for Dr. Karamanoukian average 5.0 stars out of 5. These areas are among his clinical interests: dermabrasion, vaginoplasty, and vaginal rejuvenation. Dr. Karamanoukian accepts Anthem, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, and Cigna, in addition to other insurance carriers. Dr. Karamanoukian attended medical school at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), David Geffen School of Medicine. He has received the distinction of RealSelf Top Doctor. He speaks Armenian. He is professionally affiliated with Providence Saint John's Health Center. His practice is open to new patients.

When you hear the words “plastic surgeon,” you might call to mind actresses with outlandish body proportions or aging stars with surreal facial features. Plastic surgery to alter appearance is referred to as “aesthetic” or “cosmetic” surgery. As is the case with celebrities, cosmetic surgery is often performed to change the appearance of a feature that a patient has always disliked, or to prevent changes from happening due to aging. However, cosmetic surgery can also restore appearance after an injury or illness -- when a medical condition leaves a physical mark that makes a patient look different, it can be very upsetting. Cosmetic plastic surgery gives patients more control over how they look.

But plastic surgery is about much more than changing someone's appearance. Plastic surgery is also about changing the form and function of the body, and often that means restoring what has been lost to injury or illness. A body part can lose its ability to function (meaning, for example, to move, grip, protect underlying tissues, or feel sensation) to many causes. Some common ones are burns, infections, injuries (e.g. from car accidents), illnesses (such as cancer), problems present from birth (such as cleft palate), or even scar tissue from previous surgeries. When plastic surgery is used to repair a damaged part, it is called “reconstructive surgery.” Reconstructive procedures restore the abilities of the patient so that they can use their body in as normal and healthy a way as possible.

Plastic surgeons are experts at safely moving tissue from one part of the body to another, using microsurgery techniques to reconnect the tiny blood vessels and nerves. They use these skills not only to improve appearance (cosmetic surgery), but also to repair damaged body parts (reconstructive surgery).

Facial plastic surgeons are physicians who provide surgical or medical treatment to change the appearance of the face, head, or neck. We communicate a great deal through tiny, natural movements of the face, so the work of a facial plastic surgeon requires an unusually high level of skill.

Facial plastic surgeons provide a number of treatment options, such as:

Cosmetic surgery, intended to enhance the appearance. These procedures are usually considered elective, although they can be psychologically very important to patients. Cosmetic procedures seek to increase physical beauty, and can include facelifts, liposuction, and nose jobs.

Reconstructive surgery, to correct the appearance. Often these procedures are considered medically necessary and treat patients who are experiencing negative effects due to an aspect of their appearance. Procedures that can be considered reconstructive may include the removal of birthmarks and scars, repairs after serious accidents, and the correction of problems such as cleft palate.

Medical treatments that do not involve surgery. This category of procedures includes Botox, wrinkle treatments, injectable fillers, or medical skin products.

Facial plastic surgeons may have trained as plastic surgeons first, but most physicians who specialize in facial plastic surgery actually begin as otolaryngologists, or ear, nose, and throat doctors. A large part of the training that all otolaryngologists receive in medical school involves surgery on the face, and facial plastic surgery is considered the largest subspecialty of otolaryngology.

The field of facial plastic surgery is changing rapidly, with new advances in the past few years, such as laser therapy, minimally invasive surgery, and microsurgery. Facial plastic surgeons are able to use this knowledge to help you feel confident about the face you present to the world.

Dermatologists are medical doctors who take care of your skin, hair, and nails. Their work can involve everything from treating uncomfortable and itchy allergic rashes, to injecting Botox and removing wrinkles, to performing surgery to remove life-threatening skin cancers.

Dermatology is divided into several branches. A dermatologist may perform all of these services in his or her daily work, or he or she may specialize and focus on just one field.

Dermatopathology deals with the identification of skin diseases. Dermatopathologists diagnose skin problems, usually by taking scrapings of skin and examining them under a microscope.

Cosmetic dermatology is the branch of dermatology that works to improve the appearance of the skin. This can include wrinkle reduction, liposuction, hair loss treatment, or the treatment of scars.

Dermatological Immunology is a subspecialty that deals specifically with immune related problems of the skin, such as eczema or lupus.

Pediatric dermatologists treat newborns and children with skin disorders. They also provide help to families with inherited skin problems.

Mohs surgeons are specialized dermatologists who can remove skin cancers using a microsurgery known as Mohs technique, where slides of the tissue are examined as they are removed. This is a very exact surgery with an extremely high cure rate.

Your skin is extremely important: it covers and protects everything in your body. A dermatologist helps keep it healthy, as well as looking and feeling good.

Mohs micrographic surgery is a surgical treatment for skin cancer that was developed by Dr. Frederick Mohs in the 1930’s. It is the most effective technique for removing the most common types of skin cancer. For the two most common types of skin cancer, basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, Mohs has a 98-99% cure rate. The remarkable thing about Mohs is that it manages to be extremely good at removing all of the cancer cells while at the same time leaving behind most of the healthy tissue, so there is a smaller wound. This makes the procedure safer, speeds up the the recovery time, and minimizes scarring.

During Mohs surgery, skin around the cancer site is mapped out and removed in thin layers. Then each layer is examined under a microscope for cancer cells, while the surgery is in progress. If cancer cells are detected, the surgery continues and another layer is removed. If the skin is clear, the surgery can be stopped. This eliminates the guesswork for surgeons. There is no need to estimate the borders or roots of the cancer and no need to remove a margin of healthy tissue to ensure that all of the cancer is removed.

Even though Mohs has a high cure rate, is safer than other treatments, and takes less tissue, not every skin cancer is treated with Mohs. First, Mohs takes quite a bit longer than traditional surgery because each layer of skin must be carefully cut, prepped, and examined. It is also more expensive and may not always be covered by insurance. In addition, for smaller or less aggressive cancers that are easier to treat, the cure rate for non-Mohs treatments is close to that of Mohs; thus, the extra time and cost of Mohs might not be justified. Other kinds of skin cancer, such as melanoma, are hard to see under a microscope. Since melanoma is so dangerous, Mohs has traditionally not been used to treat it, as there is too much risk for missed cancer cells being left behind in the body. However, recent developments in stains (which make cancer cells more visible under a microscope) may change the role of Mohs in melanoma treatment.

Mohs microsurgery has changed the way doctors treat skin cancer in the past 80 years, and it continues to gain in popularity as it increases the effectiveness and safety of skin cancer treatment.

Dermatologic surgery is skin surgery to correct medical issues or improve appearance. Specialists in dermatologic surgery are called surgical dermatologists.

One of the most important procedures performed by surgical dermatologists is called Mohs surgery. Mohs surgery is an extremely precise type of cancer removal that leaves healthy tissue behind. It has the highest success rate of all skin cancer surgeries.

Beyond Mohs surgery, dermatologic surgeons may perform reconstructive surgery to restore function and appearance to skin damaged by trauma or a previous surgery. They can treat or remove growths and marks on the surface of the skin, including scars, moles, skin tags, and birthmarks. Most dermatologic surgeons also offer cosmetic treatments, which may include:

Hair transplants

Laser hair removal

Laser resurfacing to treat sun damage, age spots, or wrinkles

Tattoo removal

Sclerotherapy to treat varicose veins

Liposuction to remove unwanted fat

Anti-aging treatments such as Botox, injectable fillers, or chemical peels

There is a great deal of overlap between surgical dermatology, medical dermatology, and cosmetic dermatology. Some procedures apply to more than one subspecialty. For instance, mole removal can be medically necessary to lower the risk of skin cancer, but it also may improve appearance, especially if the mole is large or in a prominent position. Most dermatologists offer services in all areas.